Tragedy pushes Dominici to edge

Christophe Dominici, the hypnotic wing who led the All Blacks a merry dance at Twickenham, will be sadly conspicuous by his absence from tomorrow's return in Paris.

Sadder still, the player whose riotous running in the wondrous semi-final of 1999 provided the most indelible memory of the World Cup is in a clinic recovering from a nervous breakdown.

It follows the recent death of one close friend and the murder of another in Toulon - Dominici's home town. The 28-year-old, whose two tries against New Zealand made him a hero, has not been seen since contributing to Stade Francais' European Cup win over Wasps 12 days ago. Even then, Dominici's state of mind was such that his club had to persuade him to play.

Friends say he had been unable to sleep for a week before being admitted to the clinic, believed to be suffering from depression. Since then no visitors have been permitted beyond immediate family and a few close confidants.

The French team management are resigned to being without their star player until the Six Nations in the New Year. They have issued only a terse statement from team doctor Thierry Hermerel to the effect that the winger is 'feeling better' and should be allowed home next week.

Dominici is one of eight players missing from the team responsible for shattering the All Blacks as never before - scoring 33 points without reply to win 43-31. Emile Ntamack, Abdel Benazzi, Philippe Bernat-Salles, Marc Lievremont, Franck Tournaire, Raphael Ibanez and Cedric Soulette are out for a variety of reasons. Allan Bateman, 35, will become the oldest wing of modern times when he lines up for Wales against Samoa in Cardiff tomorrow.